And to Think That We Thought That We'd Never Be Friends

In a rhyming verse that's a deliberate homage to Dr. Seuss, poet and picture-book author Mary Ann Hoberman shows how making friends rather than fighting can lead to a better world. It all starts with an arguing brother and sister, who make up with the help of another sibling. When their family starts fighting with their noisy neighbors, music brings them together. Soon the whole town is marching in a parade, and eventually the parade swells to include the whole country--even the animals! By the end of this cumulative rollicking rhyme, the whole world is united and everyone agrees to meet once a year to celebrate the spirit of friendship. Kevin Hawkes's jubilant illustrations capture the positive spirit of the text, making this the perfect read-aloud--and shout-along!--for both families and classrooms.

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K-Gr 5-According to Hoberman, Dr. Seuss's And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street "provided both [the] cadence and inspiration" for this book. Based on the premise that kindness and inclusiveness can produce worldwide harmony, this story poem dances first through the resolution of small sibling skirmishes, then progresses to a major international parade that heals all differences. Each verse's lilting, singsong rhyming pattern ends with the refrain: "And to think that we thought that we'd never be friends!" Hawkes's playful and colorful acrylic artwork sparkles with energy. The number of characters grows from a squabbling brother and sister to "hundreds and thousands and millions of friends!" The magical transformation from anger and criticism to enthusiasm and love, by humans and beasts alike, is accomplished by invitations to all to join the musical parade. Even an ocean doesn't stop the marching because all of the sea creatures join in. This bouncy title will make a wonderful read-aloud, especially as a responsive poem with children echoing the chorus. It would also be great for creative dramatics, with youngsters joining a parade, complete with whistles, spoons, and drums.-Betty Teague, Blythe Academy of Languages, Greenville, SC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.